Funeral home uses technology to help people say their final goodbyes

LAKEWOOD, Wash. — COVID-19 is changing everything, including the way we mourn.

"It's important during a time when there's a funeral to really bring people together,” said Clarke Thomson, Mountain View Funeral Home general manager.

Jill Komura's a pastoral counselor in Olympia. She specializes in trauma, grief and anxiety, which are feelings often shared by those who experience a great loss, like death.

She said one of the most basic and essential ways humans heal is through physical touch.

“There’s already the gaping hole from the loss of the person, but now there’s also this sense that there’s no one to step in and fill this,” said Komura.

Because of COVID-19, families can't hold public funerals. Not being able to hug a loved one makes loss and acceptance more challenging.

Not knowing when the stay-at-home order will end adds even more stress.

At Mountain View Funeral Home in Lakewood, COVID-19 has forced them to modify end of life services.

"In the beginning, we had to essentially call off services. That was heart wrenching to a number of people, including ourselves,” said Thomson.

Now, funerals and grave site services are available, but limited to 10 immediate family members only.

Social distancing means mourning must happen 6 feet apart.

For years, Mountain View Funeral Home offered webcast funerals.

Soon, they'll offer "viewnerals," which are interactive virtual funerals. The technology is a direct response to COVID-19. It can bring hundreds of people together online to attend a service, communicate condolences and more.

"We can turn the floor over to the officiant, that may be at the chapel, we can send it then to the speaker, who may be at their own home practicing social distancing, the musicians at their homes or in a different spot,” said Thomson.

People can also leave online messages for the family.

Komura said there are pros and cons to virtual funeral services.

“There is a strength and power, and a comforting power, if you know that others are experiencing that loss, and suffering because of that loss, and trying to celebrate that person’s life and remember them,” she said. “[But], for some people, that screen itself is going to be a barrier.”

Mountain View Funeral Home hasn't held an interactive virtual funeral yet, but said the feature will be available soon.

They plan to use the software to share their 76th annual Easter Sunday Sunrise Service this weekend.

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